Christen Industries S-2B accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, May 8, 1999
On May 8, 1999 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Christen Industries S-2B, registered N260Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Mcgee Tyson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a total loss of engine power caused by the failure of the number 6 connecting rod, due to oil starvation for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1999 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Mcgee Tyson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries S-2B
- Registration
- N260Z · no longer on the register · serial 5058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After performing several aerobatic maneuvers at about 6,000 feet msl and 110 mph, the pilot noted that the engine rpm surged for about two seconds and then recovered to the previously set 2,500 rpm. He elected to return to the departure airport, which was about 17 miles from his location. About 1 minute later, at an altitude of 5,500 feet he said he '...noted the oil temperature started to climb.' At this point he was about 14 mile from the airport. He said, '...the engine vibrated severely with a loud metallic sound, oil poured onto the windscreen, and the cockpit filled with smoke...and the engine simultaneously seized, stopping the prop before I could feather it...I...determined that we could probably not clear the ridge line...the only practical place within gliding range to perform a forced landing was a small pasture about 1 mile behind us in the bottom of a valley alongside a small road...slowing to...90 mph...touched down about 150 feet past the fence...I had difficulty keeping the tailwheel from bouncing as we plowed through the high grass and had to make continuos rudder inputs to keep tracking straight. After approximately 300 feet of roll out, the aircraft yawed right, the left main collapsed under the aircraft, and we slid sideways onto the bottom left wing, which snapped off, taking the left upper wing with it...rotated about 180 degrees counterclockwise, and stopped in an upright position....' The engine teardown revealed that the No. 6 connecting rod had failed due to oil starvation. According to the FAA inspector, the cause of the oil starvation was 'undetermined.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,592 hours in all; 395 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 4,727 as pilot in command; 1,592 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1999; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TYS at 1:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 pm from TYS, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.